What does Stage 1 endometriosis mean?

Stage 1 or minimal: There a few small implants or small wounds or lesions. They may be found on your organs or the tissue lining your pelvis or abdomen. There's little to no scar tissue. Stage 2 or mild: There are more implants than in stage 1. They're also deeper in the tissue, and there may be some scar tissue.

What are the symptoms of Stage 1 endometriosis?

How is Stage 1 endometriosis treated?

The most common treatments for endometriosis that do not require surgery are hormone therapy and pain management. Endometriosis tissues are affected by hormones in the same way as endometrial tissues inside the uterus. Hormone changes that occur with a menstrual cycle can make endometriosis pain worse.

Is endometriosis Stage 1 curable?

And currently, it does not have a cure. However, effective treatments, such as medications, hormone therapy, and surgery, are available to help manage its side effects and complications like pain and fertility issues, respectively. And the symptoms of endometriosis usually improve after menopause.

Can I get pregnant with stage 1 endometriosis?

Women with Stage I and II endometriosis may become pregnant on their own, however, medical studies do suggest that if laparoscopy is done in women who have infertility, they are more likely to have endometriosis than women who become pregnant with no difficulty.

Dr Jensen on Different Stages of Endometriosis

Does Stage 1 or 2 endometriosis cause infertility?

Do Stages 1 & 2 Endometriosis Cause Infertility? Endometriosis is often encountered during investigation for infertility. It is generally accepted that stages 3 and 4 endometriosis cause infertility, but the association between stages 1 and 2 endometriosis is less clear.

How common is endometriosis 1?

Endometriosis is a disease where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus, causing pain and/or infertility (1). Endometriosis affects roughly 10% (190 million) of reproductive age women and girls globally (2).

Can Stage 1 endometriosis get worse?

Experts don't know why some people have more severe cases than others. Endometriosis doesn't always go from one stage to the next. If left untreated, it can remain the same over time. Or it may get worse or better.

What happens if endometriosis is left untreated?

Untreated endometriosis can cause significant pain, bloating, excess menstrual bleeding, and digestive distress. Over time, it can also affect a person's fertility. When endometriosis tissue grows outside the uterus, it can affect other organs — especially the ovaries and reproductive structures.

What is the main cause of endometriosis?

Retrograde menstrual flow is the most likely cause of endometriosis. Some of the tissue shed during the period flows through the fallopian tube into other areas of the body, such as the pelvis. Genetic factors. Because endometriosis runs in families, it may be inherited in the genes.

Does endometriosis cause weight gain?

Pelvic pain is the most common symptom. But people with endometriosis report a range of other symptoms, including weight gain.

Can endometriosis stop by itself?

Treatment may not be necessary if your symptoms are mild, you have no fertility problems, or you're nearing the menopause, when symptoms may get better without treatment. Endometriosis sometimes gets better by itself, but it can get worse if it's not treated.

Is endometriosis a life long condition?

Endometriosis is a long-term (chronic) condition where tissue similar to the lining of the womb is found elsewhere in the body. It's very common, affecting around 1 in 10 of those who menstruate. For some people, it can have a significant impact on their physical health, emotional wellbeing, and daily routine.

Is endometriosis something to worry about?

While endometriosis is a painful condition that can affect your quality of life, it's not considered a fatal disease. In extremely rare instances, however, complications of endometriosis can cause potentially life threatening problems.

What age does endometriosis usually start?

Endometriosis can affect women across all ethnic backgrounds and at any age, but it most commonly affects women during their reproductive years between the ages of 25 and 35.

What is the earliest age for endometriosis?

In the United States, it is estimated that 6.5 million women and girls as young as 8 suffer from endometriosis, and 89 million women worldwide. Endometriosis often begins with the start of menstrual periods and gets worse over time.

How can I remove endometriosis?

Even in severe cases of endometriosis, most can be treated with laparoscopic surgery. In laparoscopic surgery, your surgeon inserts a slender viewing instrument (laparoscope) through a small incision near your navel and inserts instruments to remove endometrial tissue through another small incision.

How do doctors check for endometriosis?

The only way to know for sure if you have endometriosis is with a minor surgical procedure called a laparoscopy: A doctor will make a small cut in your belly and insert a thin tube with a tiny light called a laparoscope to look for the tissue growing outside the uterus.

Does endometriosis get worse with age?

Why get it checked out. Endometriosis is typically a progressive condition, meaning it can get worse over time (29). Infertility is a common complication of endometriosis that may be avoidable with early treatment. Up to half of those with endometriosis have decreased fertility (30).

What flares up endometriosis?

High levels of estrogen and stress hormone and low levels of progesterone worsen this inflammation. Common causes of endo attacks include stress, bad sleep, and pro-inflammatory foods such as caffeine, alcohol, and red meat.

Can Stage 1 endometriosis affect infertility?

Endometriosis can influence fertility in several ways: distorted anatomy of the pelvis, adhesions, scarred fallopian tubes, inflammation of the pelvic structures, altered immune system functioning, changes in the hormonal environment of the eggs, impaired implantation of a pregnancy, and altered egg quality.

Can I get pregnant with endometriosis?

It is important to remember that most women with endometriosis will become pregnant without any medical assistance. For women diagnosed with severe endometriosis (stage III/IV) who do want to become pregnant, about 75% will be able to do so – two-thirds naturally and one-third with the help of IVF.

Can you live a normal life with endometriosis?

You can eat healthily, do yoga, make lifestyle changes and still have a flare-up or other medical conditions that are linked with endo—that is the unpredictability of this condition.” “My diagnosis with stage 4 endometriosis was confirmed via laparoscopy surgery in 2018, but I knew I had it when I was 14.

Are you high risk if you have endometriosis?

Having endometriosis may make it more difficult to conceive, and may also increase your risk for serious pregnancy complications. Pregnant people with the condition are considered higher risk.

What makes endometriosis worse?

Inflammation and high estrogen levels can make endometriosis symptoms worse. And your diet can influence both factors. “Food plays an important role in helping your body fight inflammation and balance estrogen,” says Barth. “Many people find that the right diet can significantly reduce endometriosis symptoms.”